Don't buy another CD from Amazon. CDs are simply not a good value. The
problem is a music
CD is cumbersome, fragile and expensive. Business reporters, music
analysts and net
commentators like Mark
Cuban are justifiably shoveling dirt onto the jewel case.The
latest reports say sales will
decline 60% by 2010. Ouch.

But don't bury the CD just yet! I think it can be modernized. Starting
today, AnywhereCD
will begin
selling CDs at prices matching
Amazon, giving consumers much more value because we're providing
valuable digital services for no additional cost. Along with every CD
purchase customers get high quality MP3 files. Buyers can listen to all
the
tracks on the album immediately after purchase via a web interface. The
confirmation email also includes a link that can be used to load all
the tracks directly into iTunes. All purchased music is stored
permanently in a music locker so you can download the MP3s whenever
you need them. Never lose your music again!

Comparison
of AnywhereCD vs. Amazon

AnywhereCD

Amazon

Product

MP3 Album

CD

Includes

CD + 192k MP3
files

CD

1-click loading
to iTunes

Yes

-

Permanent backup

Yes

-

Listen anywhere
using music locker from any PC
(courtesy of MP3tunes)

Yes

-

Price

Same or better
than Amazon

-

Selection

Warner Music
Group

All

AnywhereCD was just recently introduced, and you can read about the
coming out party here.
You can also watch videos
about how AnywhereCD works. Immediately
after the rollout there was a disagreement with Warner Music Group that
triggered lawsuits on both sides. I have a lot of respect for WMG,
so I flew to NYC and spent some time working through our issues. I'm
happy to announce that we're now able to operate AnywhereCD with
Warner's full approval through the end of September. You can read the
official press
release here.
This second site launch gives us an
opportunity
to adjust the pricing. Previously AnywhereCD prices were $2-3 more than
Amazon's price per CD. Today, we're announcing that we cut the prices
of
our MP3 Albums and are now matching the prices of Amazon CDs.

I actually like Amazon and, of course, you should still buy CDs (at
least
the ones AnywhereCD doesn't have) and other merchandise from Amazon.
But AnywhereCD offers incredible value to music lovers that makes it
superior to any other online CD retailer. It's the first service that
combines physical and digital into one combination with the best of
both worlds. Our contract with WMG expires at the end of September so
we'll only
be able to offer MP3 Albums until then. We may or may not be able to
sell MP3 Albums after that date, but of course you'll always have any
album you purchase in a music locker - that will never go away. And
that's the real value in AnywhereCD.
Maybe I should have called it ForeverCD?